Punjab, Haryana eye 278 LT wheat output

Punjab and Haryana are eyeing wheat output of 278 lakh tonnes for rabi season 2013-14 (November-April), with experts saying conducive weather conditions at the time of sowing may push overall yield of the crop.

As crop sowing is going on in full swing in both the agrarian states, it may get delayed in basmati growing areas, they said.

However, acreage under winter crop in the both the states is expected almost at the same level as it was in last season.

Punjab, major producer of wheat, is targeting more than 150 lakh tonnes (LT) of wheat production for the current season as against 165.91 LT last season.

"The state has set a target of achieving more than 150 LT of wheat," a senior official of Punjab Agriculture Department said here today.

Area under wheat has been proposed to be brought down to 34.80 lakh hectares as against 35.12 lakh hectares in last season. "Wheat is projected at 34.80 lakh hectares this year," he said.

The neighbouring state Haryana has fixed a target to achieve production of 127.48 lakh tonne in comparison to 113.42 lakh tonne achieved in last season.

"Area under wheat in Haryana is targeted at 25 lakh hectares as against wheat area of 24.97 lakh hectares witnessed in last season," official said here.

"The overall weather conditions have been conducive so far in Punjab and Haryana for wheat sowing which will be good for overall wheat production," Karnal based Directorate of Wheat Research Project Director Indu Sharma said.

However, she said sowing may get delayed where basmati was grown. Moreover, untimely rains last month in Punjab which delayed paddy harvesting have also caused some delay in wheat sowing.

As wheat sowing going, 73% of targeted area in Punjab has been completed while 60% area in Haryana has been covered.

"About 25.20 lakh hectares have been brought under wheat in Punjab so far which is more than 21.92 lakh hectares in corresponding period last year," official said.

"Some of the cotton growing areas in Punjab and Haryana area still to be covered as cotton plucking is still going in some areas," officials said.